Spotlight for October 7, 2007

SPOTLIGHT for
OCTOBER 7TH…

BIRTHDAYS...

1917 June Allyson, Actress/Singer
b. New York (The Bronx), USA
American leading lady whose sweet smile and sunny disposition made her the prototypical girl-next-door of American movies of the 1940s. Raised in semi-poverty in Bronx neighborhoods by her divorced mother, Allyson (nee Ella Geisman) was injured in a fall at age eight and spent four years confined within a steel brace. Swimming therapy slowly gave her mobility again, and she began to study dance as well. She entered dance contests after high school and earned roles in several musical short films. In 1938, she made her Broadway debut in the musical "Sing Out the News." After several roles in the chorus of various musicals, she was hired to understudy Betty Hutton in "Panama Hattie." Hutton's measles gave Allyson a shot at a performance and she impressed director George Abbott so much that he gave her a role in his next musical, "Best Foot Forward." She was subsequently hired by MGM to recreate her role in the screen version. The studio realized what it had in her and offered her a contract.
Her smoky voice and winning personality made her very popular and she made more than a score of films for MGM, most often in musicals and comedies. She became a box-office attraction, paired with many of the major stars of the day. In 1945, she married actor-director Dick Powell, with whom she occasionally co-starred. Following Powell's death from cancer in 1963, she retreated somewhat from film work, appearing only infrequently on screen and slightly more often in television films. Occasional nightclub appearances and commercials were her only other public performances since, and she died of pulmonary respiratory failure and acute bronchitis on July 8, 2006, after a long illness.

BIO:
www.classicmoviemusicals.com/all....htm
BIO:
www.reeljewels.com/allyson/
MORE:
www.members.tripod.com/j-hall...son.htm
WIKIPEDIA Bio:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Allyson

1914 Alfred Drake
Vocals/Actor

b. New York (The Bronx), NY, USA
d. July 25, 1992, New York, NY, USA.

One of Broadway's most venerable, respected musical leading men, Alfred Drake created the male leads in "Oklahoma!" (1943), "Kiss Me Kate" (1949) and "Kismet" (1953), winning Tonys for the latter two. Sadly, he re-created none of these roles on screen. Very much a man of his beloved live theater, he never did go to Hollywood, except for the staring role in "Tars and Spars" (1946) for Columbia Pictures, a post-war comedy.

And so, apart from a scattered handful of TV appearances, his name and art can only live on in the memories of those who saw him work his particular brand of magic on stage during the golden years of the Broadway musical, his performances on Broadway cast albums giving only a partial idea of just how potent that magic was.
~Biography By: Bob Sorrentino
WIKIPEDIA Bio:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Drake
PBS Bio:
www.pbs.org/wnet/broadwa.../drake_a.html
*LISTEN:
www.pbs.org/wnet/broadwa...drake_a.html

1924 Marty Flax, Baritone Sax
b. New York, NY, USA. USA.
d. May 3, 1972
né: Martin Flachsenhaar
Verve Bio:
www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist.aspx

1930 George Girard, trumpet
b. New Orleans, LA, USA.
d. Jan. 18, 1957, New Orleans, LA, USA


1911 Jo Jones, Drums
b. Chicago, IL, USA.
d. Sept. 3, 1985, New York, NY, USA.
né: Jonathan Jones.
Jo had studied music for 12 years becoming proficient on Piano, Trumpet and Saxes. Upon leaving school, he joined a Carnival touring the Chatauqua circuit, working as a Tap Dancer and Vocalist. He then settled in Omaha for 3 years before joining the Tommy Douglas combo in Kansas City (1933). From '35 to late '36 he worked with Count Basie, - then briefly left Basie to work in St. Louis before rejoining Basie when the Count got a good gig at the Reno Club in Kansas City. He remained with Basie (except for duty in US Army during WW2) until 1948. Among his other work, Jo appeared in '47 with the JATP; '48-9 with Illinois Jacquet; '50-1 with Lester Young, '51-3 with Joe Bushkin; then freelanced in NYC for several years before touring Europe in 1957 with Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson. During '57-'60, he led his own trio in NYC clubs, and also in '60 toured Puerto Rico. Looking back on his career, we see that with his rim shot subtleties and hi-hat nuances, Jo Jones helped create the concept of the drums as more than just a device for timing beats.
DrummerWorld Bio:
www.drummerworld.com/drummer...nes.html
WATCH:
www.drummerworld.com/Videos/...ter.html

1916 Johnny Long, Leader/Violin
b: Newell, NC,USA.
d. Oct. 31, 1972, Parkersburg, WV, USA.
Tag:. The "Old Left Handed Fiddler".
Worked with The Beachcombers; Paul Harman; Bob Houston; Helen Young; Julie Wilson.


1870 "Uncle" Dave Macon
Banjo/comic entertainer
b. Smart Station, TN, USA.
d. March 22, 1952, Readyville, Tennessee, USA.
né: David Harrison Macon Member: 'Grand Ole Opry' Show.

BIO:
www.countrymusichalloffame.com/in...tml
PBS Bio:
www.pbs.org/americanroot...avemacon.html
Uncle Dave Macon – Wikipedia Bio:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Dave_Macon
***LISTEN! (GREAT STUFF!!)
www.folkways.si.edu/search/A...ails.aspx

1908 Alton Moore, Trombone
b. Selma, AL, USA. d. 1978

1889 Clarence Muse
Actor/Composer/Film Writer
b. Baltimore, MD, USA,

d. Oct. 13, 1979, Perris, CA, USA.
(cerebral hemorrhage).

Clarence was the first African-American to "star" in a film. Very early in his career, Muse found work as an opera singer, a minstrel performer and a vaudeville actor. He was considered a pioneer in the 'Black theatre' movement, composisng songs and writing sketches for plays. In his later years, Clarence, who held a law degree from Pennsylvania's Dickerson University, often requested that he be addressed as Dr. Muse.
NYT Bio:
movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movi...aphy.htmlAfrican American Registry:
www.aaregistry.com/african_...ilm_actor

1906 Wilson "Serious" Myers
Bass/Vocals/Arranger
b. Germantown, PA, USA.
né: Wilson Ernest Myers.

1896 Philmore Wellington Ohman, Piano
b. New Brittain, CT, d. Aug. 8, 1969.
Best recalled as part of the Arden and Ohman Two Piano team. But hey also co-led B'way Pit bands.
Bio:
nfo.net/usa/o1.htmlOhman

1912 Beverly Peer, Bass
b. New York, NY, USA.
d. Jan. 16, 1997, New York, NY, USA.


1901
Ralph Rainger
composer
b. New York, NY, d. Oct., 23, 1942, Palm Springs, CA, USA.
SOLID! Bio:
www.parabrisas.com/d_ohmanp.php

1907 Mike Riley
Leader/Trombone/Trumpet/Vocals/Composer
B: Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Composed: "The Music Goes 'Round And 'Round"; "Laughing Through Tears"; work with: Bill Crow: as told in his book "From Birdland To Broadway". With bands: Irving Aaronson; Ben Bernie; Rudy Vallee; Vincent Lopez; Will Osborne. & others.

1909 Jimmy Shirl, C&W songwriter
b. New York, NY, USA.
He might have been "Country", but he also worked with Louis Jordan and Jimmy Dorsey.

1922 Martha Stewart, vocals/actress.
b. Bardwell, KY, USA. (née: Martha Haworth.)

1925 Alvin Stoller, Drums
b. New York, NY, USA
d. Oct. 19, 1992.
Strangely, Alvin is little recalled today, but he played with such stars as Bing Crosby, Georgie Auld, Ella Fitzgerald, guitarist George Van Eps, Mel Torme, Joe Mondragon (Sax): Ben Webster, pianist Paul Smith, Guitarist Barney Kessel, violinist Stuff Smith, bandleader Paul Weston, leader/trumpeter Billy May, Barney Kessel, Sammy Davis, Jr., flutist Shelly Manne, and just too many others to name.
VERVE BIO:
www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist.aspx

Notable Events
on this date include...

1962.
"Scrapper" Blackwell
guitar
died in Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Age: 59
(some sources show him d. Oct. 8.)

1966.
Smiley Lewis, guitar
died in New Orleans, LA, USA. Age: 53

1987.
Will Mercer Cook, songwriter
died in Washington, DC, USA.
Age: 84

1988.
Billy Daniels, vocals
died in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Age: 73

2000.
Jazz guitarist Dennis Sandole died at 87.
He was a mentor to John Coltrane, and others.

2001.
Jimmie Logsdon
C&W singer-songwriter
died. USA. Age: 79

Songs Recorded/Released
on this date include:

1924
"Alone At Last"
~Lee Morse
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/mo...tlast.ram

1924
"Bring Back Those Rock-A-Bye Baby Days"
~Lee Morse
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/mo...those.ram

1924
"Mail Man Blues"
~Lee Morse
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/mo...blues.ram

1924
"Big Boy"
~The Wolverine Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/Bi...igboy.ram

1924 "Tia Juana"
~The Wolverine Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/Bi...Juana.ram

1924 "Lenox Avenue Shuffle"
~The Texas Blue Destroyers
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/bu...xave2.ram

1924 "Down In The Mouth Blues"
~The Texas Blue Destroyers
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/bu...outh2.ram

1924 "Go 'Long, Mule"
~Fletcher Henderson Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/he...gmule.ram

1924 "Too Tired"
~Ted Lewis and his Band
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/le...tired.ram

1924
"San Francisco Blues"
~Clara Smith
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/cl...blues.ram

1925 "Riverboat Shuffle"
~Jack Hylton's Kit-Cat Band
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/ki...uffle.ram

1926 "Everything That Happens Just Pleases
Me"
~Margaret Johnson
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/Ma...sesMe.ram

1926 "Mama, Papa Don't Wanna Come Back Home"
~Margaret Johnson
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/Ma...kHome.ram

1927 "Mokus"
~Walter Anderson and his Golden Pheasant Hoodlums
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/misc/mokus.ram

1927 "Make My Cot Where The Cot-Cot-Cotton Grows"
~California Ramblers
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/ca...mycot.ram

Currently listening : Musical Portrait

Spotlight for October 06, 2007

SPOTLIGHT for
OCTOBER 6TH…

BIRTHDAYS...

1893 Milton Ager, composer
b. Chicago, IL, USA,
d. May 6, 1979
Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Composer, Songwriter. Wrote hits such as "Ain't She Sweet?," and the ever-popular "Happy Days Are Here Again." He began as a pianist for the silent movie theaters, went on to become a vaudevillian, and finally wound up writing hit songs for the Hollywood studios. He had many hit songs from 1918 to 1938.

MILTON AGER SHEET MUSIC
(with Sophie Tucker pictured).
MILTON AGER BIO on WIKIPEDIA:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Ager

1929 Dieter Antritter, Saxophone
b. Pforzheim, Germany
(some sources say b. Oct.5)

1911 Jack Buck, trombone
b: Keokuk, IA, USA, d. Dec. 7, 1997

1926 Alan Copeland, vocals
Alan Copeland - On The Internet
BIO:
www.alancopeland.com/

1896 Joe Davis
producer/label owner
(Davis Records/Beacon/JayDee),
b. New York, NY, USA. d. Early 1980s.

1903 Demas Dean, Trumpet
b. Sag Harbor, NY, USA.
Demas Dean was a seasoned trumpeter who studied at Howard University and was an important part of the ensembles of some of the most musically ambitious jazz bandleaders of the '20s including Elmer Snowden and Leon Abbey. The latter bandleader took Demas to South America in 1927 for what was one the genre's great exploratory adventures of that era. Later, Dean was part of the hit show entitled Blackbirds of 1929, recorded with classic blues empress Bessie Smith, and spent a decade as part of the excellent band of Noble Sissle. Dean is also on the list of players who were forced to work in the post office to survive, and up near the top if it is arranged alphabetically.

With a brother and no less than six sisters who played instruments it is no surprise that as a youngster Dean played not only cornet but the violin. He began gigging in high school as part of

Mazzeo's Brass Band and spent at least one summer season backing Beatrice Van Houten. His college years brought him in touch with many great leaders, including collaborations with "Doc" Perry and Russell Wooding. Beginning in 1923 the trumpeter spent two years touring and recording with Lucille Hegamin and Her Dixie Daisies, subsequently moving around the geographical terrain as if he was actually a daisy choosing a spot to pop up next spring. At one point in the late '20s he was located in Florida, working with Ford Dabney's Orchestra. Then he was back in New York, employed by Blackbirds of 1928 and freelancing on recording sessions and gigs--but not before the South American adventure.

1929 was the year his ship sailed for Europe courtesy of Sissle. While he did work with others such as Joe Jordan and Pike Davis, he was pretty much associated with Sissle from that point on. When the three year run of the show Rhapsody in Black came to an end in 1934, Dean made himself available to Sissle on an exclusive basis. Ten years later the trumpeter decided to leave music as a full time occupation and headed for the west coast where he wound up working for the Los Angeles Post Office until retiring in 1965. He was still living in that city in the following decade but seems to have passed on without any public attention.
~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide


1829 Jenny Lind, Singer
b: Stockholm, Sweden
d: Nov. 2, 1887 (England).
Called "The Swedish Nightingale", she played the piano at four, starred in her first important opera at 17, and was enticed by P. T. Barnum to tour America in 1850. In less than one year, Barnum had grossed $535,000 and Jenny well over $176,000, When Jenny's orchestra leader, Julius Benedict, accepted a position in London, she wrote to Otto Goldschmidt, a gifted German pianist whom she had known, asking him to join her group. He did, and the couple were subsequently married Feb. 5, 1852 in Boston, MA. Jenny's last performance was in 1883. She is buried in England.

1906 Willie Love, piano
b. Duncan, MS, USA.
d. Aug 19, 1953, Jackson, MS, USA.

1913 Carmen Mastren, guitar
b. Cohoes, NY, USA
d. March 31, 1981, Valley Stream, NY, USA.
né: Carmen Mastandrea.

1917 Bob Neal, drums, d. 1983

1908 Samuel Blythe "Sammy" Price
Piano/Vocal/leader
b. Honey Grove, TX, USA.
d. April 14, 1992, USA.
A good Blues and Boogie Woogie pianist, he studied music with Booker T. Washington's daughter, making a professional debut in 1923 in Dallas, TX.He was also a feaatured Charleston dance with Alphonso Trent's orch. In 1925 he worked with Lee Collins Orch. From 1927-'30 he toured the TOBA vaudeville circuit. In 1938, he settled in New York and was a house pianist for Decca Records where he backed such vocalists as Rosetta Tharpe, Evelyn Knight, Trixie Smith, and Peter Lind Hayes. In early '40s he led his own "Texas Blusicians" band (Lester Young was in group) for Decca and also enjoyed solo appearances at such clubs as The Famous Door, Cafe Society, and some Eddie Condon concerts. He also worked in the "Pit" band for the play 'Clash By Night ' - starring Tallulah Bankhead. In 11948 was seen at the Nice (France) Festival with MezzMezzrow. In 1951 he returned to Texas remaining for 3 years and then back to NYC in '54 wher he recorded with Jimmy Rushing. From Dec. 55 to May 56, he toured Europe for Jeunesses Musicales De France. Then returned to NYC and worked in Metropole club
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Price

1927 Frank "Little Sonny" Scott Jr.
Blues Harmonica/Jews Harp/singer-songwriter/(self-taught) artist, b. (on a plantation) Montgomery, Texas, USA.

1929 Norman Simmons
Piano/Arranger/organ/conductor
b. Chicago, IL, USA.

1914 "Pinky" Williams, alto-tenor-bari sax
b. Tuskaloosa, AL, USA, d. Aug. 17, 1996.
His brother "Skippy", played tenor sax.

Notable Events
on this date include:

1924.
Jimmy Jones, piano, piano
died in Chicago, IL, USA.
Age: 29.
Worked with singer Bessie Smith

1927.
The "Jazz Singer,"
1st Full Length movie
with a sound track,
premieres in
New York City.

1967.

Frank "Cicero" Weaver
of "The Weaver Brothers & Elviry" died.

1973.
Bill Williams, guitar, piano
died in Greenup, KY, USA. Age: 75

1975.
Claude Grant, age 69
of the "Tenneva Ramblers" died.

1996.
Theron Eugene "Ted" Daffen
age 84, songwriter, bandleader, died.

Songs Recorded/Released
on this date include:

1939
"Wolverine Blues"
Jack Teagarden Orch. (recording date)

1950 "Thinking Of You ", - voc: Eddie Fisher
1950 "Harbor Lights ", - Guy Lombardo Orch.
1956 "True Love ", - voc: Bing Crosby
1958 "Tom Dooley ", - Kingston Trio
1962 "He's A Rebel ", - Crystals
1962 "All Alone Am I ", - Brenda Lee voc.